Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives

Announcements

• We held the Girls Meet STEM Tour, an event for junior and senior high school students.
• We held the 3rd Trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with the JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee.
• International Forums on the Promotion of Intellectual Property Utilization for SDGs held at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Table of contents

• Introduction
• DE&I Initiatives at the JPO
  • I. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Team
  • II. Research Studies on Gender and Diversity
  • III. Introducing workplaces in the STEM field for female students in junior and senior high school and university
  • IV. International Forums held at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
• Cooperation with Organizations in Japan
  • I. First Trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee (July 2024)
  • II. Co-hosted a Seminar with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee: "Women in IP Meet Up 25"
  • III. Second Trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee (February 2025)
  • IV. Third Trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee (July 2025)
• Cooperation with global IP offices and organizations
  • I. Support via FIT/Japan IP Global: Cooperation with WIPO
  • II. Joint message for International Women’s Day
  • III. Participation in Global Mentoring Pilot
  • IV. Women and IP Symposium
• DE&I-related Movements
• Links to relevant information

Introduction

In order to incentivize innovations, it is indispensable to effectively utilize our existing human diversity-including women and youth. Based on this viewpoint, there has been a vitalizing global movement to promote Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) within the field of intellectual property (IP). Understanding the importance of this movement, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in order to realize a society in which individuals with different backgrounds and values are able to exercise their creativity.

Since 2023, the cross-organizational JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team has been working to further accelerate the D&I movement through interviews with IP specialists. The team helped the JPO boost recognition of the need to "respectfully bring together diverse personalities to create synergies that will enhance individual abilities," which was explicitly incorporated as a new "value" in the JPO Mission, Vision and Values (MVV) in June 2024. In addition, the JPO has continued to engage in international collaborations with other IP offices and organizations around the world in order to help establish a global network in the field of DE&I. The JPO also cooperates with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) via its voluntary fund, known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).

Some of the JPO’s DE&I initiatives are introduced here.

DE&I Initiatives at the JPO

I. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Team

In August 2023, the JPO Design-Driven Management Project established a D&I Team (Renamed "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team" in September 2024) to serve as a cross-organizational taskforce comprised primarily of young female personnel. The team is working to turn the JPO into an organization that offers both job satisfaction and an enabling work environment for all members, with a commitment to pursuing diversity and inclusivity.

In 2023, the Team interviewed JPO personnel and other IP professionals in an effort to encourage the development of proactive career visions among JPO officers by compiling a collection of messages aimed at developing positive career visions.

<Our Team Logo>

In 2024, we created a logo for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) team based on the following concepts, which we first announced on January 24, 2025, via JPOtube.

Concepts:

• The logo is designed with a circle composed of various colors, symbolizing the inclusive engagement of individuals with diverse identities.
• The distortion of the circle represents the flexible nature of the challenges and meanings addressed by DE&I, which evolve with the times and circumstances.

< JPOtube: "How DE&I drives innovation - Interviews with IP professionals around the world about the latest initiatives in their country (Part I / Part II)">

In 2024, JPOtube featured content aimed at learning from IP professionals who are at the forefront of DE&I. In the first part, we interviewed the international group "The Diversity Pledge" and participating company, Mujin, Inc. We explored the secrets behind the innovations that arise from combining diverse talents, including those of women and foreign personnel. Additionally, in the second part, we also interviewed the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), which is actively engaged in supporting women's empowerment.

For more details, please check out JPOtube!

II. Research Studies on Gender and Diversity

The matter of diverse human resources is of great importance in the promotion of innovation. Ensuring the inclusiveness of diverse people is an important part of expanding and vitalizing our IP ecosystem.

The JPO aims to find a way to strengthen the IP ecosystem through the study of gender and diversity in innovative societies.

<Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the IP Ecosystem>

The purposes of this research study are (i) to summarize the current status and issues of female human resources in the IP ecosystem, and (ii) to examine how to improve the environment to promote female empowerment and promote diversity and inclusion within the IP ecosystem. The report summary is available at the following link:

• Report Summary (English) (PDF: 3,229KB)
• Examples of innovation-creating environments in companies with effective diversity and inclusion of human resources (Japanese) (PDF:2,635KB)

<A study on the quality and quantity of patents focusing on the diversity of inventor teams>

Using patent data from Japan, we analyzed the relationship between the diversity of invention-related researcher teams and the quality of inventions. ((3) Survey on the quality and quantity of patents, with a focus on the diversity of inventor teams, in the FY2023 survey report on the relationship between Japan's IP system and the economy.)

• FY2023 survey report (Japanese) (PDF:3,854KB)
  *Refer to (3) Study on the quality and quantity of patents focusing on the diversity of inventors team

<Survey on the conditions under which inventor diversity is effective>

Aiming to identify specific conditions under which diversity is effective through a focus on two perspectives (namely, the gender and nationality of inventors, and an econometric analysis using patent data), we analyzed whether inventions produced by mixed teams of women and men, or mixed teams of Japanese and foreigners, are of higher quality than inventions produced by other teams (as measured by the number of citations). Furthermore, since the quality of inventions by female and foreign inventors is thought to differ depending on a company's organizational culture and the direction of its research and development, this study considered the ratio of female and foreign nationals on the board of directors and in managerial positions as a proxy indicator of the degree of inclusion in an organization, and examined the extent to which the performance of female and foreign inventors differs depending upon these levels.

("(3) Survey on the conditions under which inventor diversity is effective" in the FY2024 survey report on the relationship between Japan's intellectual property system and the economy)

• FY2024 Survey Report on the Role of Japan's Intellectual Property System in the Economy (Japanese) (PDF:4,145KB)
  *Refer to (3) Research on the conditions under which inventor diversity is effective

III. Introducing workplaces in the STEM field for female students in junior and senior high school and university

In an effort to encourage female junior and senior high school students and university students to become interested in science and engineering fields, and to choose their career paths while imagining their future, we held an event where we could introduce them to workplaces in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field, and interact with female staff members who have science and engineering backgrounds.

<Girls Meet STEM Tour: Discoveries at the Patent Office! What kind of work protects everyone's important ideas? (8/6,7）>

The Girls Meet STEM Tour, "Discoveries at the Patent Office! What kind of work protects everyone's important ideas?" was held at the Japan Patent Office Main Building on Wednesday, August 6th and Thursday, August 7th, 2025.　The tour included an introduction to the work of the JPO and a tour of its facilities (special conference room and trial court), as well as a meeting with female staff members (*) who were invited from various organizations related to IP.　During the tour of the trial court, the tour participants were asked to engage in an actual roleplay of oral proceedings for a patent invalidation trial in order to give them a more realistic feel for the atmosphere onsite.　At the meeting with female staff members, those working at the Japan Patent Office, WIPO, patent attorney offices, and corporate IP departments spoke about the appeal of STEM fields and the joys of working in IP, while interacting actively with the participants.

<Girls Meet STEM Tour: "Discoveries at the National Museum of Nature and Science ! What kind of work protects everyone's important ideas?" （8/27）>

On Wednesday, August 27th, 2025, the Girls Meet STEM Tour "Discoveries at the National Museum of Nature and Science!　What kind of work protects everyone's important ideas?" was held at the National Museum of Nature and Science. As with the tour held on August 6th and 7th, this tour included an introduction to the work of the Japan Patent Office, a special meeting (*), and a roleplay of oral proceedings in patent invalidation trials.

The Girls Meet STEM tour was held as part of the "Girls Meet STEM" program run by the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation, a public interest incorporated association.（*We received cooperation from the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the Japan Patent /Attorneys Association (JPAA), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Japan Office in recommending female staff members to speak at the event.）

[Past Events]

• Report on the "Career Design Seminar for Junior and Senior High School Girls: My Ideas, the Power of the Future," co-hosted by the Japan Patent Office and INPIT-KANSAI, held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 (External Link) (Japanese)

IV. International Forums Held at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the JPO together with the WIPO and the heads of the IP offices of each country hosted an international forum on the subject of promoting IP utilization for the SDGs. In the area of DE&I, the EXPO 2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD ceremony was held to honor companies utilizing IP to design a better future society that encouraged women’s and youth empowerment. A panel discussion entitled “Women & Youth Roundtable” on the subject of promoting the inclusion of women and other under-represented human resources in the field of IP was also held.

• Event Report"International Forums Held at the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan"

Women & Youth Roundtable

Cooperation with Organizations in Japan

In line with the accelerating global trends that are propelling diversity and inclusion, it is of great importance to the IP community that stakeholders cooperate to establish collaborative networks and enhance environments that foster diversity and inclusivity by holding several events.

I. First trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with the JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and the JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee

In July 2024, in the hope of strengthening collaboration with IP-related organizations in Japan, the JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team had the first trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) DE&I Promotion Committee. During the session, participants shared information on their initiatives that promote lively and fulfilling working environments for people in the IP field, as well as on their recent surveys to capture issues on DE&I in Japan. Having had small group discussions, we reconfirmed the significance of active information dissemination through this trilateral cooperation, to accelerate innovation via advancing diversity and inclusion.

II. Co-hosted a Seminar with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee: "Women in IP Meet Up 25"

On January 24, 2025, we co-hosted a seminar titled "Women in IP Meet Up 25" in collaboration with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee.

This seminar highlighted the challenges that the IP field must address from a gender perspective in order to foster innovation. By focusing on "IP x Women," we aimed to gain new insights into achieving a more diverse career landscape. The event featured a keynote speech by an instructor from the Japan Business Federation and a panel discussion with role models—both men and women—who have built successful careers in the IP industry.

The speakers shared the appeal and fulfillment of working in the IP field and exchanged ideas on the direction needed to further promote women's participation and expand the reach of IP. Approximately 60 participants attended in person, while around 55 joined online -thereby bringing together a diverse group of IP industry professionals. Attendees were able to reaffirm the attractiveness and significance of careers in IP, while identifying challenges in their immediate environments and learning tips for addressing such issues.

III. Second trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with JIPA DE & I Society Working Group and JPAA DE & I Promotion Committee(February 2025)

In February 2025, the second meeting among the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee, and other parties was held at the Patent Attorneys Association Hall. Each leader shared updates on their activities, and then 25 participants were divided into several groups to actively discuss the challenges and solutions regarding DE&I in the IP ecosystem. It was noted that DE&I in the IP ecosystem and in Japan is still at the starting line, and there is a need to clarify the challenges further. It was emphasized that it is important for the three parties to continue collaborating to explore approaches to solving these challenges.

Group photo

IV. Third trilateral meeting on diversity and inclusion with JIPA DE&I Society Working Group and JPAA DE&I Promotion Committee (July 2025)

The third trilateral meeting was held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in an external conference room with the DE&I Society Working Group of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee.　The three parties shared updates on their respective initiatives, along with the results of surveys and research on DE&I and IP conducted by each organization.　Based on these survey results, the 24 participants subsequently split into several groups and engaged in lively discussions about the current state of DE&I in the IP industry, as well as issues and improvement measures.　 Recognizing the potential for IP x DE&I to contribute toward the creation of next-generation innovation, the three parties confirmed that they will continue to cooperate toward DE&I promotion.

Cooperation with global IP offices and organizations

I. Support via FIT/Japan IP Global:
Cooperation with WIPO

The government of Japan supports people with diverse backgrounds and values from local communities and economies in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) via its voluntary fund to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global). Such support helps to deepen understanding of IP systems and the effective utilization of IP, which in turn leads toward the further development of local communities and economies.

Support for Women Entrepreneurs

• The "REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR WOMEN IN AGRIBUSINESS" was held May 15-17, 2023.

  Zimbabwean Entrepreneur Transforms Her Agribusiness Through WIPO's IP Initiatives (External Link)

Participants in the Agribusiness Conference

• Event Featuring FIT Japan IP Global（Panel discussions were held on a project to support female agri-business entrepreneurs in Africa, a project to support indigenous women.）

  FIT Japan IP Global Achievements Highlighted at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Session

  FIT/Japan IP Global hosted a panel discussion and exhibition at WIPO (External Link)

• FIT/Japan IP Global - Women Entrepreneurs Program (External Link)

Support for Youth Entrepreneurs

• WIPO-ASEAN Youth Digital Forum

  This forum focused on the convergence of young entrepreneurs, the digital economy, and intellectual property (IP). (External Link)

II. Joint message for International Women’s Day

The JPO officially supports the joint message for International Women’s Day among over 60 IP offices and organizations. The JPO has participated in the joint statement every year since 2022, when the joint statement was initiated. Based on the theme for International Women's Day 2025, "For ALL Women and Girls — Rights. Equality. Empowerment," the JPO will also unite with global partners to contribute to sharing the power of IP with all women and girls.

• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2025 (External Link)

(Joint message in the past)

• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2024 (External Link)
• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2023 (External Link)
• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2022 (External Link)

III. Participation in Global Mentoring Pilot

The JPO is one of the 15 offices which are participating in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) initiative titled "Global Mentoring Pilot". Through mentoring activities with members from global IP offices and organizations, we commit to building a new global network and further promoting the DEIA movement among innovation eco-systems.

IV. Women and IP Symposium

The Women and IP Symposium was held From April 25 to May 2, 2025 at the WIPO. During the symposium, the JPO shared with all IP offices and agencies its efforts to promote DE&I, including the Women & Youth Roundtable scheduled for the Osaka-Kansai Expo—thereby demonstrating its proactive contribution toward international efforts to advance DE&I. In addition, we gathered information on the policies and efforts of IP offices and agencies in various countries with regard to DE&I and women's empowerment initiatives, while also building relationships with their respective personnel.

• The Third Women and IP Symposium, 2025 hosted by WIPO (External Link)

Photos courtesy of the WIPO

(*) WIPO took over hosting duties from the USPTO beginning with the third symposium.

[Past Events]

• The Second Women in IP Symposium, 2024 hosted by USPTO (External Link)

The First Women in IP Symposium, 2023 hosted by USPTO

DE&I-related Movements

April 2024

The 2024 theme for World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day, April 26) is "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity." Gender equality and women’s empowerment comprise one of the SDGs, but are also significant in all development fields. The JPO has been promoting activities that contribute toward the achievement of the SDGs, including the promotion of DE&I.

• Celebrating World IP Day 2024

December, 2023

The JPO hosted the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation on December 15th, 2023. During the meeting, the G7 heads held an intense discussion about Diversity and Inclusion within the IP eco-system, and the importance of outreach activities for enhancing this movement.

• JPO Hosts the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation in the Metaverse

April, 2023

On World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) in April 2023, public awareness-raising activities were held in many parts of the world based on the 2023 theme of "Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity".

• Celebrating World IP Day 2023

April, 2022

The JPO highlighted its initiatives and contents to support youth for celebrating World IP Day 2022 under the theme "IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future".

• Celebrating World IP Day 2022

Links to relevant information

I. External Links

• Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (External Link)
• Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) (in Japanese) (External Link)
• Japan Women Inventors Association (JWIA) (in Japanese) (External Link)
• Japan Business Federation "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion" (in Japanese) (External Link)

II. The JPO Website

• I-OPEN Project (in Japanese)
• JPO Tube (External Link)

[Last updated 30 October 2025]

Contact Us

International Affairs Section (Global Challenges) International Policy Division E-mail:bzl-gyoumuhan@jpo.go.jp